Apparatus for making microfiche

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for accurately positioning in alignment and in registration, a plurality of microfilm strips each provided with a leading-end perforation and a trailing-end perforation, comprising a set of leading-end pins and a set of trailing-end pins. The pins of one set are sufficiently smaller in diameter than the pins of the other set, such that any distortion occurring in any of the strips mounted thereon will occur only adjacent one end thereof, i.e. at the end adjacent the smaller diameter pins. The pins define a microfilm strip plane, to which the leading-end pins are perpendicular while the trailing-end pins slant toward the leading-end pins, whereby each strip can be made taut by pushing the trailing-end thereof down on the slanted pin. One set only of the pins is adjustable, for varying the spacing separating the two sets of pins. Astripper is mounted adjacent one set of pins for simultaneously and easily removing all microfilm strips mounted on the pins.

United States Patent [72] inventors Augustus W. Griswold Rochester; Boris W. Haritonofi, Geneseo, both of N.Y. [21] Appl. No. 32,307 [22] Filed Apr. 27, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Atlantic Microfilm Corporation Spring Valley, N.Y.

[54] APPARATUS FOR MAKING MICROFICHE 19 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 269/14, 269/53, 269/321 W [51] 1nt.C1 B23q3/l8, B25b 5/00, B25f 1/02 [50] Field of Search 269/14, 49-54, 321 W; 93/369; 156/391, 536

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,737,324 3/1956 Bell 269/53 801,507 10/1905 Blanchard 269/54 X 900,808 10/1908 Whitehurst... 269/ 14 X 287,044 10/1883 Moore 269/53 1,599,433 9/1926 Picltell 269/54 1,619,940 3/1927 Kaplan 269/54 2,572,204 10/1951 Schneider.. 269/53 1,885,690 11/1932 Doyle 269/14X 3,089,691 5/1963 Berry 269/53 X 1,718,476 6/1929 Messmer... 269/14X 3,331,182 7/1967 Hannon 93/369 X Primary Examiner-Wayne A. Morse, Jr. Attorney-Schovee & Boston ABSTRACT: Apparatus for accurately positioning in alignment and in registration, a plurality of microfilm strips each provided with a leading-end perforation and a trailing-end perforation, comprising a set of leading-end pins and a set of trailing-end pins. The pins of one set are sufficiently smaller in diameter than the pins of the other set, such that any distortion occurring in any of the strips mounted thereon will occur only adjacent one end thereof, i.e. at the end adjacent the PATENTEU UEC28 ism FIG. 1

INVENTORS AUGUSTUS W. GRISWOLD BY BORIS W HARITONOFF $64M #"KM ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR MAKING MlCROFICI-IE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to microfiche and more particularly to an improved apparatus for accurately positioning a plurality of microfilm strips in alignment and in registration.

Description of the Prior Art Apparatus is known for positioning a plurality of microfilm strips in alignment and in registration by, for example, mounting each strip between a pair of pins, one of which is spring biased to provide tension. However, such apparatus is subject to various disadvantages, such as that the use of a spring biased pin results in a relatively expensive apparatus, and the mounting and releasing of the plurality of microfilm strips onto and from the device is relatively difficult and time consuming. Further, in the prior art apparatus when the microfilm strips are mounted taut between two mounting pins, some strips are distorted at one end, some at the other end, and some at both ends. In the present invention, any distortion present will always be adjacent one end only of each strip, and it will uniformly be adjacent the same end for all strips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the present invention provides an accurate, rapid, and uncomplicated procedure for positioning a plurality of microfilm strips in alignment and in registration, preparatory to making a microfiche.

The apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a first set of relatively large diameter, spaced-apart, leading-end pins and a second set of relatively small diameter, spaced-apart, trailing-end pins. The two sets of pins define a microfilm strip plane therebetween; the leading-end pins are perpendicular to the plane and the trailingend pins slant toward the leading-end pins. The sets of pins are spaced apart such that a microfilm strip can be made taut by pushing the trailing-end thereof down onto the slanted trail ing-end pin.

The relative sizes of the diameters of the pins are such that any distortion in a microfilm strip will occur only adjacent the smaller diameter, trailing-end pin. Further, one set only of the pins is made adjustable for varying the spacing between the two sets of pins. A stripper is provided adjacent one set of pins for easily and simultaneously removing all of the strips mounted on the pins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof, when read in conjunction with the attached drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a projection view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the apparatus of the present invention taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the device of the present invention accurately positions in alignment and in registration, a plurality of microfilm strips, for use in making a microfiche; two strips I2 and 14 of six total strips used to make one microfiche, are shown in FIG. 2. The number of microfilm strips used to make a microfiche varies, as will be understood by one skilled in the art; the present invention is not limited to a microfiche using six strips. After all of the strips have been positioned in alignment and in registration, by mounting them on the device 10, they are removed from the device 10 as a group and used to make a microfiche, by for example photographically making a duplicate thereof, as will be understood by one skilled in the art.

The device 10 includes an enclosed boxlike structure having a slanted support 16 on which are mounted a pair of parallel, spaced-apart, pin-support bars 18 and 20, and a stripper 22 adjacent the pin-support bar 20 for simultaneously removing all microfilm strips connected to pin-support bar 20. Throughout the present specification and claims, to provide a convenient referencing convention, the left-hand end of the film strips (e.g. l2 and 14), as viewed in FIG. 2, will be called the leading-end thereof, and the right-hand end of the film strips will be called the trailing-end thereof; it is to be understood, however, that this is only a convention and that the strips can be mounted on the device 10 with either end mounted on either of the bars 18 and 20.

A first set of mounting pins comprising a plurality of leading-end pins 24, are connected to the pin-support bar 18 and a second set of mounting pins comprising a plurality of trailingend pins 26, are connected to the pin-support bar 20. The plurality of leading-end pins 24 are equally spaced apart and are positioned in a straight line (i.e. they are in-line"), and the plurality of trailing-end pins 26 are also equally spaced apart (a distance equal to the spacing of the leading-end pins 24) and are also in-line," on a straight line parallel to the line of the leading-end pins 24. The leading-end pins 24 are preferably cylindrical, one-eighth inch in diameter and oneeighth inch long, and the trailing-end pins 26 are preferably cylindrical, three thirty-seconds inch in diameter and oneeighth inch long. The leading-end pins 24 are perpendicular to the microfilm strip plane defined between the two bars I8 and 20, while the trailing-end pins 26 are all slanted in the same amount towards the leading-end pins 24. The amount of slant of the trailing-end pins 26 is such that they form an acute angle of preferably about with the microfilm plane; a different angle can be used. The cam-effect from the top to the bottom of the trailing-end pins 26 due to the 85 slant is about 0.010 inch. The microfilm strip leading-end and trailing-end perforations into which the pins 24 and 26 are to be inserted are both of the same size and are slightly larger than the oneeighth inch diameter of the leading-end pins 24; the diameter of the perforations is preferably 0.l38 inch. The center-tocenter spacing of the perforations is 6.328 inch for 3 inches x 5 inches format microfiche, 7.265 inches for a 4 inches X 6 inches format microfiche, and 8.781 inches for a tab card microfiche. The leading-end perforation is precisely positioned with respect to the first frame 50 of the microfilm strip, as will be understood by one skilled in the art. Either set of pins can have the smaller diameter pins; it is not necessary that the smaller diameter pins be the trailing-end pins, they can alternatively be the leading-end pins. The requirement is that one of the sets of pins 24 and 26 be sufficiently smaller than the other set, such that any distortion in the microfilm strips will occur uniformly adjacent only the set of smaller pins; a difference of as little as 20 percent between the larger and the smaller diameter pins will be sufficient to effect this result.

The trailing-end pin-support bar 20 is connected, by means of a pair of screws 30 (not shown) to a longitudinally adjustable base 32. The base 32 is provided with a pair of slots 34 and 36 respectively, for accommodating a pair of thumbscrews 38 and 40 which matingly thread with a pair of internally screwthreaded openings 35 and 37 in the support I6 for locking the bar 20 the desired distance from the bar 18. The distance separating the two bars can be easily adjusted by simply loosening the thumbscrews 38 and 40 and sliding the base 32 to the left or right and then retightening' the thumbscrews 38 and 40 after the new spacing has been achieved. The pins 24 and 26 are maintained parallel and in-line partially by the manner in which the pins support bars 18 and 20 are mounted on the support 16. The support 16 has accurately positioned holes therein and the bar 18 is connected to support 16 by means of a pair of dowels 48 extending through accurately positioned holes in bar 18 and connected to thumbscrews undemeatb the support 16. The bar 20 has a single dowel 49 extending through a hole in bar 20 and base 32, which hole is in register with an elongated slot in support l6. The dowel 49 rides free in the elongated slot-there is no need for a thumbscrew connected thereto because the thumbscrews 38 and 40 hold the base 32 and bar 20 to the support 16.

The stripper 22 includes a stripper plate 42 having a stripping edge 44 adjacent each of the trailing-end pins 26. The stripper plate 42 is connected to a leaf spring 46 (see FIG. 3) which is in turn connected to the base 32. The leaf spring 46 biases the stripper plate 42 to a "normal" orientation, shown in FIG. 3, wherein the stripping edge 44 is positioned adjacent the bases or bottoms of the trailing-end pins 26. By pressing down on the plate 42, the stripping edge 44 is caused to move upwardly along and toward the tops of the trailingend pins 26, so as to simultaneously strip off all microfilm strips from the pin-support bar 20. When pressure is released from the stripper plate 42, the leaf-spring 46 causes the stripper plate 42 to return to its norrnal" orientation.

in operation, a number of microfilm strips which have been previously cut and perforated are accurately positioned in alignment and in registration as follows: First, the thumbscrews 38 and 40 are loosened, and then one microfilm strip 12 is mounted on the device between the uppermost of the leading-end and trailing-end pins, and another microfilm strip (not shown) is mounted between the lowermost of the leading-end and trailing-end pins. The trailing-end pin support bar is then moved to the right (as shown in FIG. 2) until the microfilm strips become taut, and the thumbscrews 38 and 40 are then tightened down to lock the pin support bar 20 in place.

The pin support bar 20 need only be adjusted infrequently. Adjustment of the pin support bar 20 may be necessary if a change occurs in the center-to-center spacing of the perforations in each strip. Such change can occur as a result of humidity changes and as a result of using a different punch unit.

After the pin support bar 20 has been properly positioned and locked in place, the microfilm strips are mounted on the device 10 until the full complement of six strips are positioned thereon. Then, a length of tape is applied perpendicularly across all six strips adjacent the pins 24 (as shown by the dotted lines 52) and a second length (not shown) of tape is similarly applied adjacent the trailing-end pins 26. The stripper 22 is then actuated by pressing down on the stripper plate 42 to simultaneously remove all of the microfilm strips from the trailing-end pins 26. The leading ends of all of the strips are then lifted off of the leading-end pins 24, and all of the strips are removed as a group and used to make a microfiche.

The perforation adjacent the leading-end of each microfilm strip, (for example, strip 12) is precisely positioned with respect to the first developed image thereon (for example, and image 50), and because the leading-end pins 24 are rigid, a high degree of accuracy is achieved in the registration of the strips and their developed images. The trailing-end pins 26 are also rigid with respect to the pin support bar 20 to which they are connected (as contrasted to being movably spring biased, for example), however the trailing-end pins are movable as a group by virtue of movable support 32. The use of a combination of a larger diameter pin and a smaller diameter pin to ensure that any distortion in the various strips will always occur only adjacent the smaller diameter pin, and the use of two sets of pins, only one of which is adjustable, are not limited to use with the preferred rigid pins of the present invention, but can be used with other types of pins. While the stripper 22 is preferably mounted adjacent the slanted trailing-end pins 26, a stripper can alternatively (or additionally) be mounted adjacent the leading-end pins 24.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as claimed hereinafter.

We claim:

1. apparatus for accurately positioning in predetermined alignment and registration, a plurality of microfilm strips each of which has a perforation through both its leading-end and trailing-end, comprising:

a. a first set of pins comprising a plurality of spaced-apart,

leading-end pins,

b. a second set of pins comprising a plurality of spacedapart, trailing-end pins, said second set of pins being in spaced-apart relationship to said first set of pins such that each of said strips can be mounted tautly between one of said leading-end pins and one of said trailing-end pins, and

c. the pins of one of said sets of pins having a relatively larger diameter and the pins of the other set of pins having a relatively smaller diameter, the relative sizes of the diameters of said pins being such that any distortion caused in a strip during the mounting thereof will occur only adjacent said pins having a relatively smaller diameter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein; said leadingend pins and said trailing-end pins are rigid, said leading-end pins are perpendicular to a microfilm strip plane defined between said sets of pins, and wherein said trailing-end pins are slanted toward said leading-end pins at an acute angle to said plane.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pins having a relatively larger diameter are said first set of leadingend pins and wherein said pins having a relatively smaller diameter are said second set of trailing-end pins.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said leadingend pins are cylindrical and are approximately one-eighth inch in diameter and said trailing-end pins are cylindrical and are approximately three thirty-seconds inch in diameter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 including means for simultaneously stripping all microfilm strips mounted on said sets of pins from one of said sets of pins.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said stripping means comprises a stripper bar having a stripping element positioned adjacent said second set of pins for vertical movement from a lower normal position adjacent the bases of said second set of pins to an upper stripping position adjacent the tops of said second set of pins, and means for spring biasing said stripper bar with said stripping element in said lower normal position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said plurality of relatively larger diameter leading-end pins are positioned in-line with respect to each other and wherein said plurality of relatively smaller diameter trailing-end pins are positioned inline with respect to each other and wherein said first set of pins is parallel to said second set of pins.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said acute angle is about to said microfilm strip plane.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2 including means for adjustably positioning one only of said sets of pins with respect to the other set.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of leading-end pins are positioned in-line with respect to each other, and wherein said plurality of trailing-end pins are positioned in-line with respect to each other, and wherein said first set of pins is parallel to said second set of pins.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for simultaneously stripping all microfilm strips mounted on said sets of pins from one of said sets of pins.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one set only of said pins includes means for stretching microfilm strips between said sets of pins.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for adjustably positioning one only of said sets of pins with respect to the other set.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said pins having a relatively larger diameter are said first set of leadingend pins and wherein said pins having a relatively smaller diameter are said second set of trailing-end pins.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said leading-end pins are cylindrical and are approximately one-eighth inch in diameter and said trailing-end pins are cylindrical and are approximately three thirty-seconds inch in diameter.

16. Apparatus for accurately positioning in predetermined alignment and registration, a plurality of microfilm strips each of which has a perforation through both its leading-end and trailing-end, for use in making a microfiche, comprising:

a. a support;

b. a leading-end pin-support bar mounted on said support;

c. a trailing-end pin-support bar mounted on said support, in approximately parallel, spaced-apart relationship to said leading-end pin-support bar, said bars defining a microfilm strip plane therebetween;

d. a first set of pins comprising a plurality of rigid, equally spaced-apart, in line, leading-end pins connected to said leading-end pin-support bar and extending upwardly therefrom normal to said plane;

e. a second set of pins comprising a plurality of stationary, equally spaced-apart, in-line, trailing-end pins connected to said trailing-end pin-support bar and extending upwardly therefrom and being slanted toward said leadingend pin-support bar at an acute angle to said plane, said second set of pins being aligned parallel to said first set of pins, and

f. said leading-end pins having a sufficiently larger diameter than that of said trailing-end pins such that any distortion caused in a strip mounted on said sets of pins will occur only adjacent said trailing-end pins.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said trailing-end, pin-support bar is connected to a base movably mounted on said support, and including means for moving and locking said base on said support to adjust the spacing between said pin-support bars.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 including stripping means mounted on said base for simultaneously stripping all microfilm strips mounted on said trailing-end pins, off of said trailing-end pins.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said stripping means comprises a stripper bar pivotally mounted on said base and having a stripping edge positioned adjacent said trailing-end pins for vertical movement from a lower normal position adjacent the bases of said trailing-end pins to an upper stripping position adjacent the top of said trailing-end pins, and means for spring biasing said stripper bar with said striping edge in said lower normal position. 

1. APPARATUS FOR ACCURATELY POSITIONING IN PREDETERMINED ALIGNMENT AND REGISTRATION, A PLURALITY OF MICROFILM STRIPS EACH OF WHICH HAS A PERFORATION THROUGH BOTH ITS LEADING-END AND TRAILING-END, COMPRISING: A. A FIRST SET OF PINS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART, LEADING-END PINS, B. A SECOND SET OF PINS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART, TRAILING-END PINS, SAID SECOND SET OF PINS BEING IN SPACEDAPART RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST SET OF PINS SUCH THAT EACH OF SAID STRIPS CAN BE MOUNTED TAUTLY BETWEEN ONE OF SAID LEADINGEND PINS AND ONE OF SAID TRAILING-END PINS, AND C. THE PINS OF ONE OF SAID SETS OF PINS HAVING A RELATIVELY LARGER DIAMETER AND THE PINS OF THE OTHER SET OF PINS HAVING A RELATIVELY SMALLER DIAMETER, THE RELATIVE SIZES OF THE DIAMETERS OF SAID PINS BEING SUCH THAT ANY DISTORTION CAUSED IN A STRIP DURING THE MOUNTING THEREOF WILL OCCUR ONLY ADJACENT SAID PINS HAVING A RELATIVELY SMALLER DIAMETER.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein; said leading-end pins and said trailing-end pins are rigid, said leading-end pins are perpendicular to a microfilm strip plane defined between said sets of pins, and wherein said trailing-end pins are slanted toward said leading-end pins at an acute angle to said plane.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pins having a relatively larger diameter are said first set of leading-end pins and wherein said pins having a relatively smaller diameter are said second set of trailing-end pins.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said leading-end pins are cylindrical and are approximately one-eighth inch in diameter and said trailing-end pins are cylindrical and are approximately three thirty-seconds inch in diameter.
 5. The apparatus according tO claim 3 including means for simultaneously stripping all microfilm strips mounted on said sets of pins from one of said sets of pins.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said stripping means comprises a stripper bar having a stripping element positioned adjacent said second set of pins for vertical movement from a lower normal position adjacent the bases of said second set of pins to an upper stripping position adjacent the tops of said second set of pins, and means for spring biasing said stripper bar with said stripping element in said lower normal position.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said plurality of relatively larger diameter leading-end pins are positioned in-line with respect to each other and wherein said plurality of relatively smaller diameter trailing-end pins are positioned in-line with respect to each other and wherein said first set of pins is parallel to said second set of pins.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said acute angle is about 85* to said microfilm strip plane.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 2 including means for adjustably positioning one only of said sets of pins with respect to the other set.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of leading-end pins are positioned in-line with respect to each other, and wherein said plurality of trailing-end pins are positioned in-line with respect to each other, and wherein said first set of pins is parallel to said second set of pins.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for simultaneously stripping all microfilm strips mounted on said sets of pins from one of said sets of pins.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one set only of said pins includes means for stretching microfilm strips between said sets of pins.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for adjustably positioning one only of said sets of pins with respect to the other set.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said pins having a relatively larger diameter are said first set of leading-end pins and wherein said pins having a relatively smaller diameter are said second set of trailing-end pins.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said leading-end pins are cylindrical and are approximately one-eighth inch in diameter and said trailing-end pins are cylindrical and are approximately three thirty-seconds inch in diameter.
 16. Apparatus for accurately positioning in predetermined alignment and registration, a plurality of microfilm strips each of which has a perforation through both its leading-end and trailing-end, for use in making a microfiche, comprising: a. a support; b. a leading-end pin-support bar mounted on said support; c. a trailing-end pin-support bar mounted on said support, in approximately parallel, spaced-apart relationship to said leading-end pin-support bar, said bars defining a microfilm strip plane therebetween; d. a first set of pins comprising a plurality of rigid, equally spaced-apart, in line, leading-end pins connected to said leading-end pin-support bar and extending upwardly therefrom normal to said plane; e. a second set of pins comprising a plurality of stationary, equally spaced-apart, in-line, trailing-end pins connected to said trailing-end pin-support bar and extending upwardly therefrom and being slanted toward said leading-end pin-support bar at an acute angle to said plane, said second set of pins being aligned parallel to said first set of pins, and f. said leading-end pins having a sufficiently larger diameter than that of said trailing-end pins such that any distortion caused in a strip mounted on said sets of pins will occur only adjacent said trailing-end pins.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said trailing-end, pin-support bar is connected to a base movably mounted on said support, and including means for moving and locking said base on said support to adjust the spacing between said pin-suppoRt bars.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 17 including stripping means mounted on said base for simultaneously stripping all microfilm strips mounted on said trailing-end pins, off of said trailing-end pins.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said stripping means comprises a stripper bar pivotally mounted on said base and having a stripping edge positioned adjacent said trailing-end pins for vertical movement from a lower normal position adjacent the bases of said trailing-end pins to an upper stripping position adjacent the top of said trailing-end pins, and means for spring biasing said stripper bar with said striping edge in said lower normal position. 